Five Little Babies Learning to Go Potty

Posted: Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 9:59 am

Oh, if only all babies were this self-motivated during potty training! Share this flannel board story with your child and see if it inspires her or him.

This rhyme, created by librarian Kelsey Coulter, is used in our Potty-Training Storytime.

Five little babies were learning to go potty.
Each had a diaper tied up in a knotty
'Til the first baby said, "I don't need diapers anymore!"
So she put on her big girl underwear
And that left only four.

(Count the remaining diapers.)

Now four little babies were learning to go potty.
Each one had a diaper tied up in a knotty
'Til the second baby said, "No more diapers for me!"
He put on big boy underwear
And that left only three.

(Count the remaining diapers.)

Now three little babies were learning to go potty.
Each had a diaper tied up in a knotty
'Til the third baby said, "I want to do what big kids do!"
So she put on big girl underwear
And that left only two.

(Count the remaining diapers.)

Now two little babies were learning to go potty.
Each one had a diaper tied up in a knotty
'Til the fourth baby said, "Diapers are no fun!"
So he put on big boy underwear
And left only one.

Do you think she's going to go potty, too? Let's find out!

One little baby was learning to go potty.
She wore a diaper tied up in a knotty.
Then the fifth baby said, "I need to potty—gotta run!"
She put on her big girl underwear
And that left none!

Just five big kids wearing big kid underwear!
No more diapers are hiding under there.

Let's count them one more time! Ready? 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5!

Children love to play with flannel boards both with adults and by themselves. Using a flannel board with your child is a wonderful way to help him or her learn, and allowing a child to play by him or herself with a board and a variety of felt pieces encourages inventive story play. And it helps develop early literacy skills!

Periodically, the library has flannel-making workshops for parents and caregivers. Check the library's calendar of events to see when the next one is being held.